n. 1. a. The backbone or spine, especially of an animal. b. A cut of meat containing part of the backbone. 2. A ridge or crest. 3. Nautical The line of intersection between the side and bottom of a flatbottom or V-bottom boat. tr.v. chined, chin·ing, chines To cut (a carcass, for example) through the spine, as when butchering. [Middle English, from Old French eschine, of Germanic origin; see skei- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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